Socceroos Asian Cup rating

Here's my Socceroos ratings: They ain't pretty but then the performances weren't.

Positives: David Carney, Mark Milligan, Michael Beauchamp, Tim Cahill and the fact these weren't the World Cup qualifiers:) Football in Asia. We've never had so much and I love it.

Negatives: Team performances, Coaching decisions and Mark Viduka, Vince Grella Lucas Neill, Patrick Kisnorbo and Harry Kewell.

Thoughts:
Mark Viduka is 31. This team needs to move our best World Cup player to the bench. This would allow him to maintain his impact and quality as he ages and slows further.

More importantly it will allow the new coach to bring in younger, more mobile forwards which will enable this team to change the way it plays.

We can't qualify for the World Cup with a slowing Viduka leading the line. Until we move him we can't improve as a team.

Sadly, it's time to change the pace of our attack, even if that means in the short-term we lose more games. We will only qualify if we can improve in our forward play. With Viduka ageing, and slowing, we need to look to the next generation.

Do you really want to watch a 34 year old Mark Viduka leading the line at the next World Cup?

RATINGS:
Mark Scharzwer..6.Made some great saves against Oman, and Japan. But his distribution was shocking, especially against Japan. His performances were much poorer than what we expect from a guy ten years in the Premiership. Very disappointing overall, but not through lack of effort or character.

Lucas Neill 5..the most disappointing of all the players. Woeful in the first two games. And getting sent-off for back chat! Well, I find that unforgivable for a guy who was so dignified in defeat against Italy twelve months ago. Missed his penalty. Can't criticise him for that, but his run-up was painful to watch.

More importantly he talked up the Socceroos chances, ran down the Omani's, got sent off, got out jumped for the Japanese goal and played woefully against Oman and Iraq. What is wrong with Lucas?

Will be important once he gets his game and attitude back. Probably needs a strong coach to get the best out of him.

Patrick Kisnorbo..4.. Arnold should have read the signs against Singapore. The rest of the country did. Kisnorbo needed protecting and given the chance to improve. Only plays with Leicester in England so clearly playing above himself for the Socceroos. Will get his chance again. Lets hope he is given more support by the Coach and players next time.

David Carney..8..well, well,well. Showed his energy and his left foot. Will undoubtedly give us scares with his defending in years to come. But will play many more times for the Socceroos, and will improve. Well done Carney and well done Arnold.

Mark Milligan..8..did fantastically well, apart from the goal which eventually took us to penalties. But he is quality, sharp and you can see he wants to win. Would always be in my Socceroos team from now on. Arnold must rue the fact that he didn't have the confidence to give the Olyroos Captain a start earlier in the tournament.

Brett Emerton..7 Still super fit. Showed his energy and ability in the last game. This is where he's needed despite his poor distribution and threat in final third. Slow to start the tournament in terms of fitness which suggests the whole team was underdone. If this guy can't run, who can!

Michael Beauchamp..7..did well I thought. Gained confidence since last Socceroos appearance and showed he can handle the pressure. Should improve from here for the Socceroos if guided correctly.

Vince Grella..5..poor Vinnie. Not fit from the off, and Arnold unwilling to take him off and give him support early in games. Vinnie undoubtedly a player of ability in a certain role. But when his team-mates aren't moving Grella will always look less effective, and for many games no-one was moving. Grella probably just needed a rest and Coach's support. He got neither.

Jason Culina..6 ran hard and got fitter as the games went on. Didn't produce anything in the final third of the field. With Grella not expected to, surely one of the two centre mids have to produce something occasionally. The team requires something more at international level. Culina has the ability and engine to score but needs to pick some moments when he can influence forward play.
Distribution was shocking in first three games. But Culina gives his all. Unfortunately it wasn't enough. Still a vital member of future campaign.

Harry Kewell..5..Not sure what Harry did. Not sure what he can do anymore. Him and Dukes beat Uruquay and got us to the World Cup last sixteen. Our golden players.

But Harry did not create much if anything in Asia. Was unfit. In fact such was his defending against Thailand that he was quickly shifted to right wing, from where he scored a great meaningless goal. Has he got more to give the national team? Maybe, but at 28 is he going to be fit enough to play?

Maybe it's time to move Harry on. Hard as it is, but maybe with the World Cup three years away, his time is over!

Mark Viduka..6..yes he scored three goals. Two against Thailand. But he didn't really turn up. in fact he didn't run until the third game and came off early in the fourth. I'm a big fan of Viduka, but until he ends his days we are restricted by his lack of pace but undoubted strengths. The big man should step back, but not down. Call him in occasionally and play him when we need him. But his talents are so big he demands a place. His lack of pace demands a certain style.

This is now restricting the growth of the team. Kennedy and McDonald, younger more mobile are not Viduka but they are the future. Viduka, sadly I say, it's time to be a bench man.

John Aloisi 6..Aloisi fought hard and always wants to play. He scored and that is what he is there for, but did he gives us much more.

Against Japan he kept the ball for way to long, was unable to find his team-mates and often lacked control. Not always his fault as support was distant, but didn't really perform. Best days are behind him. Good squad man in years to come. What's new!

Tim Cahill...8 can hold his head high. Ran hard, created goals, and scored. Probably one of the few to play as we know they can.

Nicky Carle..6..well he didn't get much game time, but sometimes a star makes his name in such a way. Can't criticise him for not winning the game against Japan single handedly, but if he had he'd be remembered for ever.

Needs more opportunities at this level. Do you really put him on at this time of the game, in this game with his experience. Coaching blind I call that.

Luke Wilkshire....5 played out of position. Silly bookings. Limited ability to attack from full-back. Carney showed what an Australian left-back is required to do in terms of attack.

Brett Holman..5 poor first touch, missed chances, didn't perform. Seemed nervous and too keen.
Jury still out, but needs more game time.

Marco Bresciano: 5 Played in patches, but reflected the team. Not fit, seemed like it was too hard at times. Lifted against Japan. As one of our creative players, what did he create in the whole tournament? Looked like a man who had played too much football in the last few years. Coach should recognise this.

Graham Arnold: 4 Poor performance. Failed to get his squad to perform. Culturally Australia need a guy that is more than just a football manager. We are in Asia. We need an intelligent man beyond the tactical stuff.

Arnie learnt as the tournament taught him lessons. He now knows it's okay to play A-League players, but he would never have done it. How many j-League players waltzed all over the Aussies, and Iraqi and Thai for that matter.

Arnie blamed his players, the referee, the heat, the different seasons. Where was the ability to celebrate our journey into Asia. The ability to use Nicky Carle instead of a non-performing Bresciano, or Carl Valeri for an exhausted Vince Grella. How long would he have persevered with Kisnorbo and Neill. Did he not see the Singapore debacle?

Arnie needs to move on. And maybe return later in his career. For me, right now, he cannot take us towards 2010. It wouldn't be fair on him.

This Australian team is the most important job in sport. This team will take us across Asia. We need a football tactician and much much more.

The Government should fund the position!